zackerman24

At its core, Emergency has an incredibly interesting and important story to tell. However, it fails to deliver a truly engrossing or cinematic experience. Scenes run long and there is a stark lack of music throughout most of the film. It results in a viewing experience that feels like "I'm just watching things happen" rather than watching a specific, artistic creation.

Still, I think there is a strong base to the movie's story, the actors' chemistry, and the characters' relationships. I simply wish there was more personality to the filming. A movie like this would have been much more engaging with a Jordan Peele-like take, honing in on the horror or suspense of the situation. Or perhaps, a stronger lean into the comedy. The actual result is a movie that fails to be very funny when it means to be, and also fails to deliver much suspense when needed.

Within the first 5-10 minutes, you will know exactly whether this is a movie for you or not. The opening scene perfectly encapsulates the fun and heart-warming tone of the whole film. The movie centers around Zak, a young man with Down's Syndrome, whose dream is to attend a wrestling camp in North Carolina with his favorite wrestler - he escapes from his home and ends up crossing paths with Shia LaBeouf's on-the-run character, Tyler. Tyler decides to look out for him along the way and a sweet journey ensues, meanwhile Tyler is being chased for his past actions and Zak is being chased by the kind woman who oversaw the home he escaped from.

PBF's success is in its direction and cast. The pacing of the movie never stalls, and the tone is balanced nicely - while it handles some serious elements, there's an overarching comfort to it, akin to a bedtime story. Though that may not be everyone's cup of tea, this movie is downright enjoyable; the mix of humor, relationships, tragedy, and local culture is so well crafted.

With the cast, there is a sense that all the main roles were cast perfectly. It also doesn't hurt that the filmmakers met Zak in real life at a summer camp and decided to write the movie around him. But regardless, the rapport between Zak and Shia is what really elevates the movie - humor is so often about timing and these two seem to have really figured it out.

While this movie pulls out some of the usual cliches and tropes, its impact is undeniable. And frankly, if the filmmakers at least execute on those tropes well, does it even matter? The movie radiates the enjoyment of a group of people knowing exactly what type of movie they wanted to make and following through on it excellently. The lighter tone of the movie is also what allows for some of those cliches to be more easily accepted by the audience. Though some may find my rating high, for me, this movie is a bright spot among a sea of bland movies with familiar/repetitive characters and storylines. And to make a film about a character with Down's Syndrome that is so much more than just about a character with Down's Syndrome is an honorable feat.